This Hindi movie is a pretty straightforward slice-of-life story that tries to give a modern look at what it's like to be a single, professional gay man. It dives into how he understands who he is, the chances he missed out on, and the personal choices he’s made along the way. The director used three parallel timelines to tell the story, which honestly didn't make much sense to me. While the core idea was actually pretty interesting, I really feel like this would have worked way better as a short film considering the point it was trying to make. Still, it wasn't a bad watch. The plot centers on Rachit, a city professional, and his friend Shikhar as they hang out for an evening. Rachit is a polished, urban guy, while Shikhar has more of a "small-town" rustic vibe, and you can really see the contrast between them when they talk. As the night goes on, Rachit starts thinking back to some old memories from a long time ago. He remembers being an intern after college in ...
The documentary takes us through many conversations and chats and interviews where these elderly gay folks share their experiences growing up at a time when many homosexuals considered homosexuality shameful, of their efforts to make peace with their deepest inclinations and their responses to changing times. It is a diverse sample that includes a male couple who have been together for 54 years, a black great-grandmother, a former Catholic monk who has become a rancher, a German Jewish refugee from Hitler. Every single one of these people found their way out of lies and loneliness by different means. One of the women would just call bar after bar asking if there was any old lesbian she could talk to. Maria, the great-grandmother, was helped by a psychiatrist. Others drew courage from the example of younger homosexuals who went into the streets to demonstrate for what they felt were their rights. Now, having come out, they seem ready to celebrate. At a party in New York thrown by a group called Senior Action in a Gay Environment, they all come together not believing that such thing could ever happen.
One has to remember that this documentary came back in 1985, which mean the time these individuals were dealing with their feelings and struggles belongs to a time that most of us were not even born. However hard we try, we can only imagine what life must have been like. And interestingly, even in today's time, I wonder what kind of support is out there for older LGBTQ community members. It is so endearing to see this older couple remembering the days they met each other, young and handsome. But its the love and sparkle in their eyes, even 54 years later, very much in love which is so obvious and evident. I really enjoyed watching this film , just under an hour; just to hear and see and remind ourselves thats lets just not take things for granted just because ewe have it easier. (6/10)
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